A number of new restaurants are opening in Fort Bend County, including one that could become known as the most environmentally friendly restaurant in the United States.

Ruggles Green already operates the "greenest" restaurant in Texas, said Federico Marques, vice president of marketing and co-founder of Ruggles Green.

However, the Houston-based restaurant chain's investors are pushing for its third and newest location in Sugar Land to become the highest-rated green restaurant in the country.

Set to open in September at 15903 City Walk in Sugar Land Town Square, Ruggles Green will offer organic food that is free of hormones and preservatives. The restaurant's investors, Green Café Management and GJR Partners, also have pledged to follow guidelines of the nonprofit Green Restaurant Association to reduce use of water and energy while cutting waste and pollution.

The GRA provides environmental assessments, consulting and a certification program to help restaurants become more environmentally sustainable. The highest certification rating a restaurant can earn is four stars.

"We want our Sugar Land restaurant to become the first five-star green restaurant, which could make it the greenest in the world, actually," said Marques.

The restaurant will have energy-efficient LED lighting, sustainable building materials such as bamboo, reclaimed woods and repurposed items. Herb gardens and hydroponic plant systems are to be featured inside the restaurant and outside in the eatery's patio area.

"I would say our menu is moderately priced in the $10 to $20 range for our specials," Marques said. "Our standard menu for entrees is probably in the $12 to $14 range."

Ruggles Green also offers organic, gluten-free and vegetarian menu items. Marques said the fast-casual, made-to-order food from the restaurant is friendly to those who may suffer from food allergies. More than 80 percent of the eatery's menu can be ordered gluten-free.

"We felt residents would be very receptive of our concept," Marques said. "There are a lot of people who have gluten issues and food allergies we felt we could address."

Ruggles Green's investors looked at different areas before deciding to build in Fort Bend County. The Sugar Land area, Marques said, fit the restaurant chain's model of healthy eating.

"The main thing we liked about Fort Bend County is it is a pretty tightknit community," he said. "Also, the demographics are good in Fort Bend County. The population continues to increase pretty dramatically."

Marques said the Sugar Land area has a more international residential makeup of young professionals with a higher discretionary income base. Also, the restaurant's visibility off of Texas 6 became a strong deciding factor in selecting the site.

"And, Whole Foods Market is nearby, which also helps," he said. The restaurant is about a quarter mile from Whole Foods.

Ruggles Green is planning a grand opening for its Sugar Land location in late September. The restaurant is planning to conduct a fundraiser to benefit Keep Sugar Land Beautiful, a nonprofit community beautification program.

Marques said the restaurant industry overall is strong and continues to increase in sales since the financial decline in 2008. Fort Bend County residents, he said, have a variety of restaurants to choose from and no longer have to drive to Houston to find a good meal.

Sugar Land Town Square, a Planned Community Developers Ltd. retail center, has been a popular destination for food and drink establishments. The retail center has more than 20 with lease agreements, said Charlie Adams, PCD vice president of retail.

In addition to Ruggles Green, a couple more restaurants are planning to open in the development, including another healthy eating establishment called Salata. The "create-your-own" salad bar will offer diners the opportunity to customize salads and wraps with a variety of fresh ingredients. Salata will also offer a Greek yogurt bar and accompaniments for breakfast and afternoon snacks.

Salata is planned to open at 2170 Town Square Place in November.

PCD also recently announced that Aura Brasserie Moderne, an American-French cuisine restaurant, would relocate to Town Square in September. Fort Bend residents, husband and wife team Frederic and Michelle Perrier are moving the restaurant from Missouri City where it was located for five years. Aura will relocate to 15997 City Walk.

"We've really enjoyed creating dishes not only for those who appreciate a great steak or fish, but also for those willing to think outside the box," said Frederic Perrier, who is also the restaurant's chef. "With our casually elegant atmosphere, superior service and menu variety, we believe Aura will appeal to Sugar Land Town Square diners. So many of our current customers have expressed their wishes for a Sugar Land location, and we are very excited to bring them one."

Rosenberg growth

Sugar Land isn't the only Fort Bend community to see new restaurants. A few high-profile restaurants are under construction or currently in the planning stages in Rosenberg, said Matt Fielder, city of Rosenberg Economic Development Corp. director.

Among them is fast food chain Carl's Jr., scheduled to open Sept. 27. Franchisee Amin Dhanani, of Zubha Foods LLC., said Rosenberg was selected for the restaurant because of the area's fast-growing market.

Featuring a line of charbroiled burgers, Carl's Jr. also offers hand-breaded chicken tenders and its popular Made From Scratch Biscuits and low-carb food selections.

The restaurant's drive-through window will be open 24 hours and the dining room will close at midnight.

Bull Creek Café & Grill is also set to open in Rosenberg. The restaurant, located at 918 San Jacinto St., will feature home-style meals, according to its website.

Although there is not a lot of restaurant activity under way in the county's east side, Missouri City Economic Development Corp. director Bob Graf said the community will see a couple of new fast-food restaurants from the chains Taco Bell and Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers.

"The newest restaurant that opened about 30 days ago is Louisiana Home Style Kitchen," Graf said. "We've been waiting on it for a long time. It offers Cajun-styled seafood. Another new restaurant is Don Julio's, which offers Tex-Mex."

Graf is sure more restaurants will be coming to Missouri City when a new Wal-Mart opens off of Texas 6.